Andaman reiterates demand for statehood

Port Blair, June 19 (UNI) Lone Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP Manoranjan Bhakta has once again urged the Centre to set up a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the press, the MP thanked him for constituting a group to ministers to look into the issue of providing Legislative Assembly for the island territory.

The MP, in his letter, stated that the issue related to the rehabilitation of the tsunami victims needed to be discussed and in the event of the Prime Minister being busy, the same discussion could be held under the chairmanship of the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

He added that there was urgent need for acquisition of passenger ships to cater to the needs of the people and tourists visiting the archipelago.

Besides, he demanded a separate shipping corporation for the A&N Islands for handling the large fleet of vessels available with the administration.

He claimed that there was also need for a medical college and an engineering college at Port Blair as well as a degree college at Diglipur.

The farmers must be provided with proper marketing facilities so that they could get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce, the MP added.

Mr Bhakta also urged the Prime Minister to look into the issue of checking the influx of population to this island territory for maintenance of the ecology.

Expressing happiness over the cabinet's decision to upgrade the Port Blair Airport as International Airport, the MP urged to start immediate flights on Kolkata-Phuket-Bangkok-Port Blair sector, apart from further expansion of tourism infrastructure.

Other demands made by the MP included providing 100 days employment under Employment Guarantee Scheme for three districts, support price of copra and arecanut, remission of loan to farmers upto Rs two lakhs to farmers, creation of a separate state civil service and forest service and availability of more specialist medical officers.

UNI